When Secretary of State Hillary Clinton addressed the NPT Conference she told the U.N. assembly that these numbers “send a clear, unmistakable message” and a senior defense official expressed hope that it would set a standard for the rest of the world, including China, to be more transparent about their nuclear weapons programs. She also said that the US nuclear weapons stationed throughout Europe as part of the NATO nuclear force will remain there for some time.

The removal of US nuclear weapons from Europe is seen by many activists as perhaps one of the things that can be achieved as a first step towards global nuclear disarmament. Other steps (apart form ratification of the CTBT and a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty) often discussed include de-alerting (taking nuclear weapons off hair trigger alert), the adoption of a no first use policy and the establshment of new Nuclear Weapon Free zones. Many NGOs also look towards the UK as possibly being the most likely to be the first of the P5 states to make a  breakthrough and move towards nuclear disarmament. We in Britain realise that it's not that simple but it does show how difficult it is to get someone to go first. But perhaps we can do it in the UK - after all, saving £100 billion or so by not replacing Trident must be some kinf of incentive for any government. And we could save even more if we ditched nuclear weapons altogether. It's not like we need them for anything other than to threaten to kill millions of people with them, is it?

The most mentioned campaign though is that of ICAN  and the adoption of a Nuclear Weapons. A draft of such a convention already exists - called "Securing Our Survival"  it was published in 2007 by the International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms, the International Network of Engineers and Scientists Against Proliferation and International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War. It is a powerful tool to use to counteract arguments that suggest that putting such a treaty together is far too difficult.

Lots more questions again today about the election at home but I have no idea what will happen.

Tonight we are holding a reception at the nearby Quaker House with our friends in Peace Action and Le Mouvement de la Paix - hoping for lots of guests and a chance to meet and greet lots of friends old and new.